EASTLAKE, Ohio – On Tuesday afternoon, the Messiah University baseball team opened the Division III Baseball Championship Series with a 18-3 loss to the third-ranked Warhawks of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Warhawks got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. The Warhawks extend their lead with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take a 5-0 lead. The Falcons got on the board in the top of the fifth with an RBI single from Dustin Isanogle to reduce the Warhawks lead to 5-1. The Warhawks though responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1. The Falcons scored a run in the top of the seventh with a solo home run from Luke Ott, but the Warhawks scored nine in the bottom of the seventh to push their lead to 16-2. The Warhawks scored two in the bottom of the eighth and the Falcons scored a run in the top of the ninth on an RBI double from David Martinez to put the final score at 18-3. Luke Ott led the Falcons with two hits, including a solo home run, and an RBI. David Martinez and Dustin Isanogle each added a hit and an RBI. Nick Moyer added a hit, and a run scored.
 
Up next, the Falcons take on No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater in game two of the Division III Baseball Championship Series on Wednesday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m. If the Falcons win game two, Messiah will force a game three to decide the National Champion that will start 45 minutes after game two.
 
DIII Baseball Championship Series: Game One: No. 3 UW-Whitewater 18, Messiah 3
Both teams went scoreless in the first, with Daniel Knight working a 1-2-3 inning to start the game.
 
After the Falcons left a runner on second in the top of the second, the Warhawks looked to take a lead in the bottom of the second. The Warhawks scored a run on four straight singles, but Daniel Knight limited the damage with a pop out and two line outs to get out of the inning with the Falcons only down 1-0.
 
After a scoreless third inning and top of the fourth, the Warhawks scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth on four hits to push the Warhawks lead to 5-0 headed into the fifth inning.
 
The Falcons looked to answer the big inning from the Warhawks. Luke Ott led off the inning with an infield single after replay review confirmed he was safe. David Martinez then attempted to move the runners to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, but the Warhawks catcher threw out the Falcons runner at third for the first out of the inning. Dustin Isanogle then continued his clutch World Series with an RBI double to left field to reduce the Warhawks lead 5-1. The Warhawks though were able to get out of the inning with a double play to hold onto their four-run lead entering the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Warhawks added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead to 7-1.
 
After a scoreless sixth, the Falcons looked to get back into the game. Luke Ott led off the inning with a solo home run to reduce the Warhawks lead to 7-2 headed to the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Warhawks though rattled off nine runs in the bottom of the seventh to push their lead to 16-2.
 
The Warhawks added two runs in the bottom of the eighth and David Martinez hit an RBI double in the top of the ninth to put the final score at 18-3.
 
Stats
Luke Ott led the Falcons with two hits, including a solo home run, and an RBI. David Martinez and Dustin Isanogle each added a hit and an RBI. Nick Moyer added a hit, and a run scored. Isaiah Parido and Evan Wagaman each added a hit for the Falcons. The last time the Falcons lost a game was on May 10 against York in the MAC Commonwealth Championship Series. The Falcons will be looking to do what they did back in May and win the next two games following a game one loss.
 
Next
The Falcons take on No. 3 Wisconsin-Whitewater in game two of the Division III Baseball Championship Series on Wednesday, June 4 at 11:00 a.m. If the Falcons win game two, Messiah will force a game three to decide the National Champion that will start 45 minutes after game two.